The Alternative/Folk band is based out of Saint Joseph, Missouri where they formed in early 2008 after Austin and Dansare played and sang together on a whim; the feel and blend was natural, so they stuck with it. With Austin’s songwriting abilities, and Dansare’s haunting and pure voice, it created a fine match.
They released their first album (Elephant EP) in early 2010, which had some success and inspired them to create a full-length album. In mid 2011, they set out to create a full-length album (The Woe Dies) that more fit their musical taste (such as Bob Dylan, Nick Drake, Elliot Smith, Iron & Wine, Bon Iver, Bright Eyes, Andrew Bird to name a few).
I Want You to Want Me
Eyelit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I need you to need me
I'd love you to love me
I'm begging you to beg me
I want you to want me
I need you to need me
I'd love you to love me
Put on a brand new shirt
I'll get home early from work
If you say that you love me
Didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you crying?
Oh, didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you crying?
Feeling all alone without a friend, you know you feel like dying
Oh, didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you crying?
I want you to want me
I need you to need me
I'd love you to love me
I'm begging you to beg me
I'll shine up the old brown shoes
Put on a brand-new shirt
I'll get home early from work
If you say that you love me
Didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you crying?
Oh, didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you crying?
Feeling all alone without a friend, you know you feel like dying
Oh, didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you crying?
Feelin' all alone without a friend, you know you feel like dying
Oh, didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you crying?
I want you to want me
I need you to need me
I'd love you to love me
I'm begging you to beg me
I want you to want me
I want you to want me
I want you to want me
I want you to want me
The lyrics of "I Want You to Want Me" by Eyelit are a plea to a lover to reciprocate feelings. The repetitive lines "I want you to want me," "I need you to need me," and "I'd love you to love me" give a sense of desperation and a longing for affection. The singer is willing to do anything to earn the love and attention of their partner.
The lines "I'll shine up the old brown shoes, put on a brand new shirt, I'll get home early from work if you say that you love me" further highlight the singer's willingness to make an effort for the relationship. The mention of crying and feeling alone without a friend suggests that the singer has picked up on cues that their partner is feeling isolated and unhappy. They want to be the one to cure those feelings and be the one who brings joy into their partner's life.
Overall, the lyrics portray a person who is deeply in love and is hoping for their feelings to be reciprocated. It speaks to the universal desire for connection and the lengths we go to attain it.
Line by Line Meaning
I want you to want me
The singer desires the affection and attention of the person they are addressing.
I need you to need me
The singer feels a strong dependency on the person they are addressing and desires reciprocity.
I'd love you to love me
The singer wishes for the person they are addressing to feel strong romantic feelings towards them.
I'm begging you to beg me
The artist is willing to do whatever it takes to get the person they are addressing to express their desire for them.
I'll shine up the old brown shoes
The artist is willing to put in extra effort to present themselves well in order to gain the person's affection.
Put on a brand new shirt
The singer is changing their appearance in the hopes that the person they are addressing will find them more attractive.
I'll get home early from work
The singer is making a sacrifice in their personal life to show the person they are addressing that they are important.
If you say that you love me
The artist's actions are contingent on the person they are addressing reciprocating their feelings.
Didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you crying?
The artist recalls a time when they witnessed the person they are addressing in pain or distress.
Feeling all alone without a friend, you know you feel like dying
The artist remembers the specific emotional turmoil the person they are addressing was experiencing.
Feelin' all alone without a friend, you know you feel like dying
The singer reiterates the deep despair felt by the person they are addressing.
Contributed by Camden S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
eric hart
haunting. beautiful.
Bob Mason
Hey gang, I got hooked on your music like a year ago and this song has been stuck in my head again recently. Might you please post the chords? I'd really like to cover this and share it with friends! Best wishes.